Passenger joins big names at Galway festival

Mike Rosenberg (aka Passenger) is to play Galway International Arts Festival in 2017.

The English singer songwriter, who has amassed a whopping 1.3 billion views on YouTube for his hit single Let Her Go, will play the Absolut Big Top on Saturday 22 July 2017.

Passenger topped the charts in many countries with Let Her Go in 2013 and 2014, received an Independent Music Award in 2013 and the British Academy's Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work in 2014.

However, he has a host of critically acclaimed albums to his name, including his debut solo album, Wide Eyes Blind Love, which earned him a support slot for Turin Brakes' tenth anniversary show at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London; 2010’s Flight of the Crow, which was recorded in Australia and saw him joined in the studio by various Australian independent musical talents; 2012’s All The Little Lights, which he toured the UK with, opening for Jools Holland and good friend Ed Sheeran, whom he has regularly supported; and 2014’s Whispers, which he has described as “the most 'up' album” and Whispers II.

On 16 June 2016, the music video for Somebody's Love was uploaded to his YouTube channel, thereby announcing his next album, Young as the Morning, Old as the Sea, which also contains a piano duet with Birdie.

For his Absolut Big Top performance, Passenger will be backed by a live band, showcasing songs from the new record as well as breathing new life in to the many Passenger cult classics.

Passenger will be joined by special guests Hudson Taylor, the Irish folk duo taking the UK and Ireland by storm. Formed in 2011, the pair consists of brothers Harry and Alfie Hudson-Taylor, who are signed to Polydor Records. Their debut album, Singing for Strangers, was released in 2015, peaking at number 3 in Ireland and number 24 in the UK. It includes the single Chasing Rubies, which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 51. The video for the album was filmed in Galway. Having spent the majority of 2016 on the road touring Ireland, UK and Europe, the siblings are currently back in the studio writing and recording songs for their follow up album.

Festival CEO John Crumlish said: “Hearing Let Her Go on a warm, lazy summer evening by the river is a nice thought on these cold evenings and a very nice 40th birthday present to look forward to.”

Passenger, with special guests Hudson Taylor, will play the Absolut Big Top on Saturday 22 July 2017. Tickets, priced at €35, will go on sale on Friday 03 March on giaf.ie and roisindubh.net.

Galway International Arts Festival has already announced that Gavin James will play the Absolut Big Top on Thursday 20 July 2017, while The Beach Boys’ legend Brian Wilson presents Pet Sounds at the Absolut Big Top on Sunday 23 July 2017. Tickets for Brian Wilson also go on sale this Friday 03 March, priced at €65.

Galway International Arts Festival acknowledged the support of its principal funding agencies the Arts Council and Fáilte Ireland and Festival Partners Ulster Bank, ABSOLUT and NUI Galway.